What are the differences between Iraq and North Korea?

[SSSnail]

Crazy Dictator? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
Aggression towards neighbors? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
WMD? Iraq - no; NK - yes

That's my understanding, anything else?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Oil? Iraq - yes; NK - No
Ability to destabilize an entire critical region? Iraq - yes; NK - No

 

[techs]

Iraq-Two million barrels of oil a day. Borders Iran.
N. Korea- No oil. Borders China.

 

[EagleKeeper]

WMD -
Demonstrated by NK.
Bluffed by Iraq.

Educational level of people.

Iraq was not homogeneous.

Iraq did not have a super power as a sponsor when they overstepped.
NK is smart enough to not have overstepped yet

 

[MaxPayne63]

North Korea - Border within 20 miles of the world's 11th most populous city.

 

[maddogchen]

Crazy Dictator? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
Aggression towards neighbors? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
WMD? Iraq - no; NK - yes

A pushover? Iraq -Yes; NK - No

 

[andylawcc]

Iraq: Muslim; NK: atheist

well played Atheists.

 

[Red Squirrel]

NK: "Let's blow something up!" nothing happens.

Iraq: "Let's blow something up!" kills over 4,000 people

 

[Lifted]

NK: "Let's blow something up!" nothing happens.

Iraq: "Let's blow something up!" kills over 4,000 people

I hope you're trolling.

Oh, Canadian. :awe:

 

[CountZero]

Crazy Dictator? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
Aggression towards neighbors? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
WMD? Iraq - no; NK - yes

That's my understanding, anything else?

Seoul is a huge factor. Even with a completely by surprise preemptive strike we couldn't prevent major damage to Seoul, a city of 10M people.

A superpower as an ally in China. If NK struck first it seems like China will let them flounder but if there is even a hint the US made a preemptive move China (and potentially Russia) might back NK.

Even ignoring easy bombardment of Seoul a war on that peninsula would have a major effect on the world economy. If it drew in China, if NK struck out at Japan with missiles, etc. It would all be bad.

It is a terrible position, people have been talking down on the US response but there really isn't a great answer. NK is allowed to exist and throw these little tantrums solely due to its location. If it was in the middle east it wouldn't exist anymore.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I hope you're trolling.

Oh, Canadian. :awe:

Well it is the common joke that NK can't actually do anything. In reality I doubt it's really true, they seem to just like making threats, but it's still funny to make fun of that anyway.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

WMD -
Demonstrated by NK.
Bluffed by Iraq.

Educational level of people.

Iraq was not homogeneous.

Iraq did not have a super power as a sponsor when they overstepped.
NK is smart enough to not have overstepped yet

Ummm, no. Iraq most assuredly did possess WMDs as they repeatedly used modern nerve gasses in the Iran/Iraq war and internally against the Kurds and they definitely had the means to deliver them against other nations via the Scud.

As for the super power as sponsor, nobody really believes that China is truly a sponsor of NK, they're more like a zookeeper. China wants NK to exist because it keeps a government friendly to us (SK) away from the border with China, NK is a buffer, not a brother. If NK oversteps China is more likely to pull the choke-chain tight than they are to root them on or help to escalate things. China is going to take over most of the world on the strength of their economy, NK starting a shooting war with us would be bad for business. China wants that even less than we do.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Ummm, no. Iraq most assuredly did possess WMDs as they repeatedly used modern nerve gasses in the Iran/Iraq war and internally against the Kurds and they definitely had the means to deliver them against other nations via the Scud.

As for the super power as sponsor, nobody really believes that China is truly a sponsor of NK, they're more like a zookeeper. China wants NK to exist because it keeps a government friendly to us (SK) away from the border with China, NK is a buffer, not a brother. If NK oversteps China is more likely to pull the choke-chain tight than they are to root them on or help to escalate things. China is going to take over most of the world on the strength of their economy, NK starting a shooting war with us would be bad for business. China wants that even less than we do.

First part. Iraq once had WMDs which were taken out of play before the war. Second is that having a buffer does not mean China doesn't support NK. They most certainly do. I think China uses NK to create vexation and instability but may be coming to realize their control is limited.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

First part. Iraq once had WMDs which were taken out of play before the war. Second is that having a buffer does not mean China doesn't support NK. They most certainly do. I think China uses NK to create vexation and instability but may be coming to realize their control is limited.

I think the vexation NK causes is mostly within China. Their support to NK is minimal: they trade, but offer very little outright aid. It's a matter of debate just how much control China can exercise over NK. It might be limited as you suggest and it might be that China just has not bothered to put their foot down yet. What isn't debatable is that China wants NK to not be a problem to us and that they're angry with all the rhetoric now. China's business is business, not war. They is NO upside to China if things between NK and the USA turn from flying words to flying bullets. The bigger our military presence in the region and the more attention we pay to NK the worse it is for China. Stability on their border helps China, war doesn't.

I really think that China is going to smack NK down before things go to far.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Iraq's people weren't starving to death.
Iraq had a stronger and more modern military.

 

[Zeze]

The very topic was asked on Reddit.

Iraq/Iran:

-People aren't dying from starvation
-No brainwashing involving restriction of press/media/information.
-They possess an actual domestic economy as well as limited legitmate international trading.
-Iran/Iraq may dislike US, but they go about doing their own crap. They do not cry wolf 10x a week.

 

[Bateluer]

A pushover? Iraq -Yes; NK - No

North Korea will be more of a pushover than Iraq was. Their army is fed ~500 calories a day, they simply don't have the resources to fight for very long. There's no fuel for their vehicles and no fuel for their antiquated aircraft so their pilots have logged zilch for flight hours. Their artillery could deal significant damage to Seoul, but any missiles they get off the ground will be taken out before they get anywhere near their intended targets.

 

[Doppel]

I have to assume it's only oil because:

1) NK actually has WMD. With actual proof this time
2) NK is way shitier for NKans than Iraq ever was (not including those who were targeted by Iraq's chem weapons, of course)

 

[ringtail]

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[Baked]

My breakfast intake is 1400 calories alone. Lunch is another 1000. Haven't decided what to eat for dinner. If I don't eat 3000 calories a day, I would starve.

 

[kyrax12]

Can someone post proof of NK's WMD?

 

[Theb]

Iraq: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC5dfneoHcE
NK: Didn't try to kill Obama's dad.


The refugee situation would also be a nightmare.

 

[olds]

Crazy Dictator? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
Aggression towards neighbors? Iraq - yes; NK - yes
WMD? Iraq - no; NK - yes

A pushover? Iraq -Yes; NK - No

LAWL!

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Can someone post proof of NK's WMD?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_North_Korean_nuclear_test

 

[amdhunter]

No oil in North Korea.

The only thing North Korea can damage is Samsung Galaxy S4 production; which Amercia wants so they can watch Apple profit. Obama wants Samsung to fail.